Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B44/00—Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions

Definitions

• Figure 1 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments
• Figure 2 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments
• Figure 3 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments
• Figure 4 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments
• Figure 5 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments
• Figure 6 shows, in block diagram form, a computer system in accordance with at least some embodiments.
• Figure 7 shows a flow diagram depicting an overall method in accordance with at least some embodiments.
• Pointer cursor shall mean a graphics object shown on a display device where the graphics object moves on the screen responsive to movement of a pointer device, such as a mouse or a touch pad.
• Well planning software may be used to display a plurality of hook load and depth values on a plotted graph displayed on a user interface.
• the plotted values may be individual plot points and/or may be trend lines representative of actual measured values, as well as representative of expected hook load and measured depth values.
• a user may interact with the plotted values displayed on the user interface in order to calibrate the friction factors associated with the expected hook load and measured depth values in such a way that the expected values more closely align with the actual measured values. More specifically, the friction factor values used during the planning of a borehole may be calibrated based on the selection of actual values measured during the creation of the borehole.
• Figure 1 A more detailed overview of the software is shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 1 shows a user interface in accordance with at ieast some embodiments.
• Figure 1 shows a portion of a user interface 100 which may be displayed on a display device of a computer system, such as an externa! monitor or a tablet screen, !n
• user interface 100 comprises a top portion 120, in which a drop down menu 1 12 of possible drilling operations for which the friction factor calibration will be performed may reside, !n
• the user may interact with drop down menu 1 12 by selecting one of a plurality of operating conditions such as, but not limited to, tripping in, tripping out, and rotating off bottom.
• the specific operation selected by the user from drop down menu 1 12 provides the data that may be used in order to arrive at the proper correlated friction factors values for the selected operation.
• user interface 100 also comprises a graph 102, in which a plurality of hook load versus measured depth values may be plotted. Drilling reports and surveys may provide actual measured hook loads and depth values for tripping in, tripping out, and rotating off bottom. Torque and drag calculations may be later used to predict expected hook load and depth values for each operation. Subsequently, actual measured hook loads and depth values may be used in order to perform a friction factor calibration on the expected hook load and depth values.
• graph 102 shows an expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 for an example tripping-in operation for a set of expected friction factor values.
• the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 varies depending on the operation selected in drop down menu 1 12, as well as previously gathered data or real-time data related to the specific operation.
• graph 102 shows a plurality of values representing actual measured hook load versus depth values 108.
• the actual measured hook load versus depth values 106 are representative of the tripping ⁇ in operation selected in drop down menu 1 12, but as with the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104, the actual values vary based on the operation selected, as well as previously gathered data or real-time data related to the specific operation.
• a user interacts on the user interface 100 by selecting a plurality of options.
• a user may calibrate the friction factors by adjusting the friction factors in such a way that line 104 more closely matches the actually measured values 106.
• Figure 1 shows a situation prior to calibration of the friction factors.
• Figure 2 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments.
• Figure 2 shows the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104, as well as the plurality of actual measured hook load versus depth values 108.
• a pointer cursor 300 is shown.
• Pointer cursor 300 may be any graphics object shown on a display device that moves responsive to the movement of a pointing device, such as a mouse, directional keys on a keyboard, a user's finger or stylus gestures on a touchscreen, or movement of a users hands in a virtual reality setting.
• the user moves the pointer cursor 300 to "hover-over a location on the user interface 100 which corresponds to the desired selectable item. For example, a user may move pointer cursor 300 to hover-over actual measured hook load versus depth point 108.
• Figure 2 the user has not yet brought the pointer cursor 300 close enough to point 108 in order to select it, however, the result of selecting point 108 with pointer cursor 300 is shown in Figure 3.
• Figure 3 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments.
• Figure 3 shows a situation where the user has brought the pointer cursor 300 close enough to point 108 to result in a selection of the point.
• the user may need only to place the pointer cursor within a certain predetermined distance on the display device of a selectable item in order to select it, while in another embodiment, the user may need to place the pointer cursor within a certain predetermined distance of a selectable item and then perform an action to select the item, such engaging an action button on a mouse, pressing a specific key on a keyboard, or double tapping a touch screen.
• the computer system calculates a friction factor for the selected point 108 based on the actual measured depth and the actual measured hook load.
• the calculated friction factor of selected point 108 is displayed on the user interface 100.
• the actual measured depth, actual measured hook load, and the calculated friction factor is displayed in a data box 302 overlaid on graph 102.
• the user selected point 108 and the computer system determined that the measured depth of point 108 is 18000 feet, the hook load is 96.5 kips, and the calculated friction factor is 0.35. These values are examples and are not necessarily indicative of actual measured or calculated values.
• the user may interact with the data box 302 to select the friction factor (if desired).
• the user may select the calculated friction factor in data box 302 the same way the user selects a point on the user interface 100 - by moving the pointer cursor 300 near the desired friction factor value and selecting it by either clicking a mouse button, double tapping a touchscreen, or by engaging a key on a keyboard.
• the friction factor selected in the data box 302 the corresponding friction factor used with respect to the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 is replaced with the selected friction factor, and thus the friction factor is "calibrated.”
• the user may select any single point from the actual measured hook load versus depth values 106 on the graph 102, it may also be possible for the user to select a range of values, where each value in the range correlates the expected hook load versus depth values along a range of measured depth and hook load values, as is shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 4 shows a user interface in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 4 shows many of the same elements of Figure 3; however, in Figure 4, graph 102 is divided into sections.
• Figure 4 shows five measured depth sections 400, 402, 404, 406, and 408. These sections may correspond to various logical sections of a planned, partially drilled, or fully drilled borehole, such as the spud section, a vertical cased portion, a vertical non-cased portion, and a deviated portion.
• a range button 120 is present in top portion 120.
• the range sections of the graph 102 may be shown, and the user may select any of the ranges in order to calibrate the friction factor within that range.
• the selection may be made by selecting a single point within the range.
• it may be possible to seiect ali the points within a range by selecting a portion of the user interface 100 corresponding to that range, such as a section to the right of graph 102.
• the selection may be made by "clicking and dragging" the pointer cursor in such a way that a selection box is drawn around a set of selectable points.
• a range may be selected by selecting a first point, and then selecting a second point, where the range is then bounded by the depths associated with the points.
• the user has selected (by any suitable means) the values corresponding to measured depth section 406, Responsive to the selection of a range, the computer system calculates a range of friction factors corresponding to the actual measured value of hook load within the range, in the example of Figure 4, for a depth range of 18200 feet and a hook load of 96 kips within the range, the three friction values (0.27, 0.29 and Q.35) are calculated and displayed.
• three friction factors are illustratively shown and may correspond to the friction factors of points 414, 108, and 416 respectively.
• the computer system calibrates the friction factor of the corresponding portion of expected hook load versus measured depth line 104. More specifically, if the user selects friction factor 0.35 for range 406, the portion of expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 within range 406 will be calibrated with a friction factor of 0.35. While the example of Figure 4 shows three friction factors values as the range of friction factors, two or more such friction factors may be calculated and displayed.
• a friction factor may be calculated for each and every point in the group of actual measured hook load versus depth values 106 within the selected range, !n another example system, the computer system may calculate a friction factor for points on the outer edges of the range (e.g., 416 and 414), and then also calculate a predetermined number of friction factor values failing between.
• the computer system may also present a single friction factor value for the selected range, in which case the text box would be similar to that shown in Figure 3.
• the user may select a range of values, and the computer system may then calculate a single friction factor value for that range based on any suitable criteria.
• the single value of the friction factor to be applied for the depth range may be the largest of a plurality of friction factor values calculated (one each for each point 106 in the depth range).
• the computer system may select a single value of the friction factor based on the mean value of the friction factors for the range, the average value of the friction factors within the range, or the center value of the friction factors within the range.
• Non-selectable items may be non-selectable for a variety of reasons. For example, if a user selects a plurality of points to represent a range, but attempts to subsequently select a point falling outside a valid range, the point falling outside may be grayed out and not selectable. If a point is non-selectable, when the pointer cursor 300 is placed over the point, the computer system will not make any determination as to the measured depth or hook load of the point, nor will the computer system calculate a friction factor for the point.
• the computer system reacts as if the pointer cursor is in a dead zone; in other words, a non-interactive area of the user interface 100 [0026]
• the computer system calculates one or more friction factors, and the user may select a friction factor to be applied to the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 either as a whole, or within a depth range.
• the result of "calibrating" the one or more friction factors is a shifting of the expected hook load versus measured depth line 104 to more closely match the actual measured values, as illustrated by Figure 5.
• Figure 5 shows a user interface in accordance with at least some embodiments.
• the user has "calibrated" one or more friction factors applied to the line 104 in accordance with any of the examples discussed above.
• the user may have selected a single point from the group of actual measured hook load versus depth values 106, the user may have selected two or more points from the group actual measured hook load versus depth values 106, or the user may have selected depth ranges extending for some or all the depths associated with the graph.
• "calibrating" the friction factor(s) results in an adjusted hook load versus depth line 500 that more closely matches the actual measured hook load versus depth values 106.
• the adjusted hook load versus depth line 500 may be adjusted in a piecemeal fashion. In other words, the adjusted hook load versus depth line 500 may be created and altered with each sequent friction factor selection until the user is satisfied.
• Figure 5 shows an adjusted hook load versus depth line 500 corresponding to friction factor calibration of the selection of multiple actual measured hook bad versus depth values 106, it is possible for the user to adjust only a portion of the line by calibrating the friction factor of a desired range or any number of desired actual measured hook load versus depth values 106.
• friction factor calibration may also be achieved using data received in real-time.
• the methods described above provide a seamless process of graphically selecting a point by way of point-and-click gestures, without which the user may have to manually enter each input after lengthy a trial and error process of individually selecting each pair of values and observing each subsequent results.
• FIG. 6 shows a computer system 600, which is illustrative of a computer system upon which the various embodiments may be practiced.
• the computer system 600 comprises a processor 602, and the processor couples to at least one input device 604, a display device 606 and a main memory 612 by way of a bridge device 608.
• the input device 604 may be the device by which a data point or friction factor may be selected, and may be an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. It is on the display device 606 that friction factors and hook load and measured depth graphs may be plotted.
• the processor 602 may couple to a long term storage device 610 (e.g., a hard drive, solid state disk, memory stick, optical disc) by way of the bridge device 808.
• a long term storage device 610 e.g., a hard drive, solid state disk, memory stick, optical disc
• Programs executable by the processor 602 may be stored on the storage device 610, and accessed when needed by the processor 602. In some cases, the programs are copied from the storage device 610 to the main memory 612, and the programs are executed from the main memory 612. Thus, the main memory 612, and storage device 610 shall be considered computer-readable storage mediums.
• Figure 7 shows a flow diagram depicting an overall method of performing a friction factor calibration, some of which may be performed as a program executing on a processor. The method starts (block 700), and begins with calibrating friction factor for a drilling operation (block 702).
• the calibrating may be by; plotting on a display device an indication of expected hook load versus depth for the drilling operation (block 704); displaying a plurality of plot points on the display device, each plot point indicative of a measured hook load versus depth for the drilling operation (block 706); selecting a first plot point of the plurality of plot points, the first plot point associated with a first depth, and the selecting responsive to a pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first plot point on the display device (block 708); displaying a first value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the particular depth to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point, the displaying the value responsive to the selecting the first plot point (block 710); selecting the first value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first value (block 712); and then shifting on the display device at least a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth based on the first value of friction factor (block 714). Thereafter, the method ends (block 7
• At least some embodiments are methods comprising calibrating friction factor for a drilling operation, the calibrating by; plotting on a display device an indication of expected hook load versus depth for the drilling operation; displaying a plurality of plot points on the display device, each plot point indicative of a measured hook load versus depth for the drilling operation; selecting a first plot point of the plurality of plot points, the first plot point associated with a first depth, and the selecting responsive to a pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first plot point on the display device; displaying a first value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the particular depth to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point, the displaying the value responsive to the selecting the first plot point; selecting the first value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first value; and then shifting on the display device at least a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth based on the first value of friction factor.
• Other embodiments may also comprise; selecting a second plot point of the plurality of plot points, the second plot point associated with a second depth, and the selecting responsive to the pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second plot point on the display device; wherein displaying further comprises displaying a range of values of friction factor, where each value in the range of values correlates the expected hook load versus depth along a range of depths between the first depth and the second depth, the displaying the range value responsive to the selecting the first plot point; and wherein selecting the first value further comprises selecting the first value from the range of values of friction factor.
• Other embodiments may also comprise selecting the first plot point residing with a first depth range
• Other embodiments may also comprise displaying a friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the first depth range to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point; and wherein shifting further comprises shifting on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the first depth range based on the first value of friction factor.
• Other embodiments may also comprise selecting a second plot point of the plurality of plot points, the second plot point associated with a second depth range distinct from the first depth range, and the selecting responsive to the pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second plot point on the display device; displaying a second value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the second depth range to the measured hook load versus depth for the second plot point; selecting the second value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second value; and shifting on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the second depth range based on the second value of friction factor.
• Other embodiments may also comprise calibrating the friction factor value for at least one from the group comprising: tripping in; tripping out; and rotating off bottom.
• Other embodiments may be computer systems comprising a processor; a pointing device; a memory coupled to the processor; a display device coupled to the processor; wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: plot on a display device an indication of expected hook load versus depth for the drilling operation; display a plurality of plot points on the display device, each plot point indicative of a measured hook load versus depth for the drilling operation: select a first plot point of the plurality of plot points, the first plot point associated with a first depth, and the selecting responsive to a pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance for the first plot point on the display device; display a first value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the particular depth to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point, the displaying the value responsive to the selection the first plot point; select the first value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first value; and then shift on the display device at least a portion of the indication
• the program may also cause the processor to select a second plot point of the plurality of plot points, the second plot point associated with a second depth, and the selecting responsive to the pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second plot point on the device; wherein when the processor displays, the program further causes the processor to display a range of values of friction factor, where each value in the range of values correlates the expected hook load versus depth along a range of depths between the first depth and the second depth, the displaying the range value responsive to the selecting the first plot point; and wherein when the processor selects, the program further causes the processor to select the first value from the range of values of friction factor.
• the program may also cause the processor to select the first plot point residing within a first depth range; wherein when the processor displays the first value of friction factor, the program further causes the processor to display a friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the first depth range to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point; and wherein when the processor shifts, the program further causes the processor to shift on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the first depth range based on the first value of friction factor.
• the program may also cause the processor to select a second plot point of the plurality of plot points, the second plot point associated with a second depth range distinct from the first depth range, and the selecting responsive to the pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second plot point on the display device; display a second value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the second depth range to the measured hook !oad versus depth for the second plot point; select the second value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second value; and shift on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the second depth range based on the second value of friction factor,
• the program may also cause the processor to select the first plot point residing within a first depth range.
• Other embodiments are computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive an indication of expected hook load versus depth for a drilling operation; display the indication of expected hook load versus depth on a plot displayed on a display device; receive an indication of a plurality of plot points, each plot point indicative of a measured hook load versus depth for the drilling operation; display the indication of the plurality of plot points on the plot displayed on the display device; receive an indication of selection of a first plot point of the plurality of plot points, the first plot point associated with a first depth, and the selecting responsive to a pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first plot point on the display device; display a first value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the particular depth to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point, the displaying the value responsive to the selecting the first plot point; receive an indication of a selection of the first value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the first value;
• the program may also cause the processor to select the first plot point residing within a first depth range; wherein when the processor displays the first value of friction factor, the program further causes the processor to display a friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the first depth range to the measured hook load versus depth for the first plot point; and wherein when the processor shifts, the program further causes the processor to shift on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the first depth range based on the first value of friction factor,
• the program may also cause the processor to receive an indication of selection of a second plot point of the plurality of plot points, the second plot point associated with a second depth range distinct from the first depth range, and the selecting responsive to the pointer cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second plot point on the display device; display a second value of friction factor which correlates the expected hook load versus depth for the second depth range to the measured hook load versus depth for the second plot point; receive an indication of selection of the second value responsive to the pointing cursor residing within a predetermined distance of the second value; and shift on the display device a portion of the indication of expected hook load versus depth corresponding to the second depth range based on the second value of friction factor, [0046] The program may also cause the processor to select the first plot point residing within a first depth range.
• references to "one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or the like indicate that a particular element or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Although the phrases may appear in various places, the phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

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• 2013
  • 2013-02-27 WO PCT/US2013/028052 patent/WO2014133505A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-02-27 AU AU2013379805A patent/AU2013379805B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-02-27 CA CA2893484A patent/CA2893484A1/en not_active Abandoned
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  • 2013-02-27 US US14/765,831 patent/US9932813B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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